Complete Bible Study Guide

What Does the Bible Say About Ordination?

6 Scripture references with full text and commentary

Understanding Ordination in the Bible

Discover 10 powerful Bible verses about ordination. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential church & ministry topic.

6
Total Verses
0
Old Testament
6
New Testament

Top 6 Verses About Ordination

  1. 1
    John 15:14
    Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
    KJV
  2. 2
    John 15:16
    Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
    KJV
  3. 3
    Acts 6:3
    Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
    KJV
  4. 4
    Acts 14:23
    And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
    KJV
  5. 5
    Ephesians 4:1
    I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, of the Lord: or, in the Lord
    KJV
  6. 6
    Titus 1:5
    For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: wanting: or, left undone
    KJV

Subtopics of Ordination

ordination of female pastors
Of priests

New Testament: What Does the Bible Say About Ordination? (6 Verses)

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, of the Lord: or, in the Lord
For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee: wanting: or, left undone

How to Study What the Bible Says About Ordination

  1. 1

    Begin by reading through every verse listed on this page, noting which ones speak most directly to your current season of life. Write them down and revisit them throughout the week.

  2. 2

    Use a concordance or the search tools on this site to find additional passages about ordination. Look for patterns across both the Old and New Testaments to gain a complete picture of what God reveals on this subject.

  3. 3

    Study the context of each verse. Read the surrounding chapter to understand who was speaking, who the audience was, and what circumstances prompted the passage. Context prevents misapplication.

  4. 4

    Memorise at least one key verse about ordination and meditate on it daily. Scripture memory transforms thinking and equips you to apply God's Word in real-time situations.

Practical Application

Studying what the Bible says about ordination is only the beginning. Scripture is meant to be lived out in daily obedience and faith. Here are practical steps to apply these truths:

  • Identify one area of your life where the biblical teaching on ordination needs to be applied more consistently. Write a specific, actionable step you can take this week.

  • Share what you have learned about ordination with a fellow believer or in a small group setting. Teaching others solidifies your own understanding and encourages mutual growth.

  • Pray through the key verses about ordination, asking God to reveal how His Word applies to your relationships, decisions, and daily habits.

How Well Do You Know What the Bible Says About Ordination?

You have studied 6 verses about ordination. Now test your knowledge with chapter-by-chapter quizzes covering the books where these verses appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Bible say about ordination?
Discover 10 powerful Bible verses about ordination. Study what Scripture teaches about this essential church & ministry topic. The Bible contains 6 key verses about ordination spanning both Old and New Testaments.
How many Bible verses about ordination are there?
There are 6 key Bible verses about ordination compiled in this study guide, drawn from books across both the Old and New Testaments.
What is the best verse about ordination?
One of the most well-known and frequently cited verses about ordination is John 15:14 — "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."
Where in the Bible does it talk about ordination?
Ordination is discussed throughout the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments. You can find 6 references to this topic across multiple books including the Psalms, Proverbs, the Gospels, and the Epistles.

Continue Studying Ordination